TL;DR – One-Page Playbook
| # | Move | Clock Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hard-reset – unplug / breaker off 5 min | 0-5 min |
| 2 | Display reset – hold Energy Saver + Lighting 10 s | 5-6 min |
| 3 | Expose sensor – shelves out, rear freezer panel off | 6-10 min |
| 4 | Defrost & inspect – low-heat hair dryer, reseat 2-pin plug | 10-18 min |
| 5 | Power up & watch – wait 2-3 min for reboot | 18-20 min |
If 1E stays gone for 30 minutes, you’re golden.
1 | What 1E Actually Means
1E (or IE/SE on some displays) flags a freezer-temperature sensor fault—the thermistor is iced over, unplugged, or dead . On a few LG lines the same code also pops for a defrost-sensor failure
Top Calgary Triggers
Post-brownout power flicker → moisture flash-freezes on the sensor.
Packed freezer wall → airflow blocked, sensor buried in frost.
Loose/corroded 2-pin harness behind evaporator cover.
Aged thermistor (PN EBD60925804/DA32-10104N equivalents) after ~7 years.
Control-board glitch from voltage spikes.
2 | 20-Minute DIY Fix
A) Hard-Reset (5 min)
Kill power for a full 5 minutes (LG boards need a longer capacitor bleed than Samsung’s).
Restore power. If the panel clears, you’re done.
B) Button Reset (1 min)
Press Energy Saver + Lighting (or Freezer + Fridge on older models) for 10 seconds.
Panel should beep and cycle. If 1E returns → keep going.
C) Panel Off (4 min)
Safety: Unplug again; towels down.
Slide out freezer trays.
Remove four or six Phillips screws.
Ease the rear freezer cover straight back—mind the wiring.
D) Defrost & Plug Check (8 min)
Ice coat? Sweep a hair dryer on LOW 15 cm away, keeping plastic just warm to touch.
Harness: Reseat the white 2-pin thermistor plug; inspect for green corrosion.
Spin fan blades (top-left) to be sure nothing’s jammed.
Sensor test (optional): Multimeter ~5 kΩ at 25 °C. Outliers → replace sensor.
E) Rebuild & Verify (2 min)
Panel on, screws snug, power up, listen for the fan, monitor the display. No error after 30 minutes = fixed.
3 | If 1E Comes Back
| Symptom | Probable Culprit | DIY Level |
|---|---|---|
| Code re-appears within a day | Dead thermistor → swap sensor kit | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Freezer never hits −18 °C | Bad heater or fuse | ★★★☆☆ |
| Random extra codes (CF, CO) | Control-board weakness | ★★★★☆ |
| Heavy ice every week | Drain gutter clog | ★★☆☆☆ |
4 | Parts & Calgary Street Prices (2025)
| Part | CAD | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Thermistor kit (EBD60925804) | 35-45 | In most LG-stocked vans |
| Harness sub-assy | 25-35 | Order with sensor |
| Defrost heater | 60-80 | Often paired with sensor |
| Main PCB | 240-320 | Special-order |
| Pro visit (diag + labour) | 139-189 | Flat-rate in YYC |
5 | When to Ring a YYC Tech
1E pops twice in 48 h.
Multimeter shows open/short thermistor.
You spot burnt board marks or melted harness.
Freezer temp climbs above −5 °C after reset.
Most Calgary-based LG-certified crews cover NW | NE | SW | SE the same day and carry the thermistor kit onboard.
6 | Keep Error 1E Away
Vent gap: leave 5–8 cm between food and back wall.
Stable temps: Freezer −18 °C (0 °F); Fridge 3 °C (37 °F).
Quarterly ritual: vacuum condenser coils; flush defrost drain with hot water.
After any outage: do a 5-minute hard-reset before restocking frozen goods.
Gaskets matter: clean and “dollar-bill test” the door seal every season.
7 | FAQ (Fast Scroll)
Is 1E the same as IE or SE?
Yes—letter orientation changes by model; all three signal a freezer-sensor fault.
Can I chip the ice off instead of heating?
Don’t. One slip punctures the evaporator coil—a four-figure sealed-system repair.
Will food spoil during a 20-minute thaw?
No. Freezer air may climb to −10 °C at worst—solid food stays safe.
Does home insurance cover food loss?
Most Calgary policies cover ≥ $500; snap a photo of the 1E code and keep grocery receipts.
LG fridge error 1E flags a freezer-temperature sensor fault. First, unplug the fridge for 5 minutes, then hold Energy Saver + Lighting for 10 seconds to reset. If 1E returns, remove the rear freezer panel (power off), melt any frost around the thermistor with a low-heat hair dryer, reseat the 2-pin plug, and restart. Replace the sensor if the code re-appears.
